Overview
Steve Fennell is a seasoned trial lawyer often sought out to lead complex, high-stakes civil litigation matters. In more than 35 years of practice, he has successfully handled jury and bench trials on a broad range of topics, including environmental and asbestos insurance coverage, antitrust, RICO, intellectual property disputes, nuclear and construction contracts, and personal and environmental injury cases.
In one recent notable success, Steve led Steptoe’s representation of 17 prisoners of war from the first Gulf War who sued the Iraqi government for damages arising out of their torture while in captivity. The lawsuit resulted in a $959 million judgment, an appeal to the US Supreme Court, and a nine-figure settlement achieved through a United States–Iraq executive agreement.
Steve served as the chair of Steptoe’s Litigation Department for a decade and established the firm’s Complex Litigation and Discovery Center.
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Maryland
- New York
- Pennsylvania (inactive)
- Supreme Court of the United States
- US Court of Federal Claims
- US District Court, District of Columbia
- US District Court, District of Maryland
- US Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
- Hon. Edward S. Northrop, US District Court, District of Maryland, 1978-1979
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1978, magna cum laude; Editor, Georgetown Law Journal
- B.A., University of Maryland, 1974, magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
Areas of Work
Representative Matters
- For more than a decade, lead national trial and coordinating counsel for a Fortune 50 company in asbestos and other mass tort cases.
- Lead counsel representing 17 Gulf War I POWs in a suit against Iraq for damages arising out of their torture while in captivity. Suit resulted in $959 million judgment, appeal to the US Supreme Court and ultimately nine-figure settlement through a United States-Iraq executive agreement.
- Represent internationally recognized news correspondent and cameraman in obtaining highest awards granted by US Foreign Claims Settlement Commission for torture-related injuries during captivity in Gulf War I.
- Successfully prosecuted civil rights cases on behalf of cross-burning victims in Washington, DC suburbs resulting in presidential visit to clients’ home to apologize on behalf of nation.
- Lead counsel at trial and appeal in successfully defending against $1 billion insurance coverage claim.
- Lead defense counsel in $1 billion dispute arising from shutdown of nuclear power plant which resulted in favorable defense settlement.
- Lead counsel in two-decade-long construction dispute involving two subway stations and tunnels on Washington, DC system.
- Successfully represented families pursuing wrongful death and survival actions in automobile accident and malpractice contexts.
- Represent newsletter publishers in enforcing copyrights.
- Mediator in DC Superior Court Multi-Door Program.
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Again Wins National Law Journal DC Litigation Department of the Year in Insurance
June 3, 2019
Publications
Harvard Law Review
Noteworthy
- Euromoney's Expert Guide to the World's Leading Insurance and Reinsurance Lawyers (2006, 2007, 2009, 2013-2017, 2021)